Al Ain Airshow takes off with full support from ADAC

Showing its support for the Middle East's premier aerobatics event, Al Ain Airshow 2009, which started yesterday, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) officials have confirmed it has reviewed staffing and logistics to support the visitors and aircraft descending on the UAE's "Garden City" for the event at Al Ain International Airport.

Running from 28 – 31 January, the long-awaited 2009 edition of the UAE's only annual aerobatic show has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2006 with this year no exception as it boasts a line-up including the daring Sky-Cat wing-walkers, the Swift stunt-glider team, and the Aero GP and Pioneer aerobatic teams.

Rapidly having become an event attracting enthusiasts from both regional and worldwide audiences, for those in the UAE, Al Ain is just over an hour's drive from either Abu Dhabi City or Dubai and so the event is easily accessible to the majority of the UAE's population.

A key event on the Abu Dhabi sporting and events calendar, Al Ain Airshow – as you would expect - offers everything for the die-hard enthusiast but, importantly too, the show has a strong family-friendly side and this year is no different with a variety of more 'grounded' activities on site – for children and adults alike – including a mini-karting track, children's play area, Etihad flight simulation zone, and a paint-ball experimenting area.

"While the year is still young, Al Ain Airshow is undoubtedly one of the key events of 2009 and we are proud, once more, to be supporting the event at our international airport in Al Ain and to be supporting another fantastic sporting events in Abu Dhabi," said Mrs. Sheikha Al Maskari, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at ADAC.

"Al Ain International is one of the region's only secondary airports and, because it is ideally situated between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, we hope this will mean many visitors from all over the UAE will be coming to Al Ain over the next few days," she added.

In 2008, the show attracted over 130,000 visitors; organisers have stated that they expect this figure to grow substantially for this year's show.

Al Ain Airshow 2009 is supported by ADAC, operator of Al Ain International Airport, and organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and the UAE Air Force & Air Defence.

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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, visited the GE Healthcare pavilion at Arab Health 2009, the premier healthcare exhibition being held at the Dubai International Convention Centre. “We are pleased to be a part of Arab Health again this year and are privileged that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed visited our stand, where we presented our latest innovative technologies. We continue to grow and strengthen our partnerships and collaborations with leading medical institutions across the region. Our ‘Early Health’ model of care is all about detecting diseases earlier, which can potentially enable earlier treatment options and acute monitoring,” said Richard di Benedetto, President and CEO, GE Healthcare International, EAGM region.

GE Healthcare is putting the spotlight on key healthcare challenges facing the Middle East region. The latest innovative technologies are being showcased by GE Healthcare at Arab Health 2009.

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Dubai tops ‘Middle East Cities of the Future’ ranking by fDi magazine

Dubai is top of the league in the Middle East Cities of the Future ranking by fDi magazine, scoring highest points for economic potential, business friendliness, infrastructure and quality of life. Dubai scored 471 amongst 20 cities in the region evaluated, with Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, Manama, Riyadh and Ras Al Khaimah in the next five places, respectively.

Produced by the Financial Times group, fDi is the premier publication for the business of globalisation, and is regarded as the single most trusted source of information for companies involved with international expansion.

The Middle East Cities of the Future were ranked according to 76 criteria listed under Economic Potential, Business Friendliness, Tax & Other Costs, Human Resources, Quality of Life, Infrastructure and Foreign Direct Investment. Dubai ranked highest in four of these categories.

HE Mr Sami Al Qamzi, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED), said: “The top score of Dubai in the Middle East Cities of the Future ranking is a testimony to the concerted approach of DED, under the guidance and leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to create a high-growth environment and boost the economy by implementing strategies to attract foreign investment to the emirate. The result for Dubai is based on an evaluation of 76 parameters that, in essence, cover the entire aspects of the economy.”

He added: “One of the focal areas of DED is to create a robust and business friendly destination with utmost ease in setting up and managing businesses. The success of our approach has been reiterated by the high scores achieved in the fDi ranking. DED‘s foreign investment office headed by Mr Fahad Al Gergawi is dedicated to attracting regional & international foreign investment in Dubai, and one of the key objectives is to develop closer co-operation with key international investment partners.”

Mr Al Gergawi said: "This top-ranking highlights the opportunities that exist in Dubai for investors when evaluating the potential for international expansion. Dubai is very investor-friendly and enjoys a strategic location. The recognition as a leading destination by fDi magazine reinforces our commitment to ensure that our international partners realise and experience the competitive advantages offered by the Emirate.”

The Economic Potential category, in which Dubai topped the list, evaluated parameters such as 2009 GDP growth forecast, National GDP, economic initiatives, inflation, cash surplus, high-tech exports, industrial production growth and growth of urban population. “Winning this award and ranking high in many of the categories reflect Dubai's success in diversifying our economy, and the potential for growth that the Emirate offers despite the challenges that the state of the global economy brings at this point in time,” explained Mr Al Qamzi.

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Celebrate Valentine’s Day with pampering choices at the The Address, Downtown Burj Dubai

The Address, Downtown Burj Dubai, the city’s newest social hotspot, is celebrating Valentine’s Day with an array of choices that will pamper guests with fine dining, luxury hotel stays and relaxing spa treatments. Ms Cora De Conceicao-Stuart, Hotel Manager, The Address, Downtown Burj Dubai, said: “We are focused on creating new hospitality choices for our guests that reflect the spirit of the season. Our special packages tailor made for Valentine’s Day highlight the creativity we bring in, to ensure that guests have a memorable experience at our hotel.”

‘Love is in The Address’, the Valentine’s Day exclusive package, promises a perfect evening for two over a private dinner on the breathtaking terrace of the luxurious Spa Suite. Arrive in style in a chauffer-driven Bentley, while at the hotel a personal butler will greet and escort the couple to their room. The in-suite 5–course candlelight dinner package overlooking Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building, includes a private meeting with Executive Chef Uwe Faust to select the menu according to the couples’ preferences.

The hotel’s Valentine’s Package, open to Dubai residents, is only available on February 12, 13 and 14, 2009, and priced at AED 8,888 per night. Other features include a bottle of bubbly and berries; ‘Romance Indulge’ treatment for two at The Spa; Romantic Spa bath; flowers on arrival; in-suite breakfast-in-bed; and personalized souvenirs to capture memories of the special occasion.

The Address, Downtown Burj Dubai is also hosting several other Valentine packages to mark the special occasion. For an upbeat yet romantic celebration, the signature Chinese restaurant Hukama offers a seven-course set menu with welcome beverages and a complimentary rose and souvenir for ladies for AED 888 per couple. The highest located lounge to celebrate your love in the city can be found at Neos, the lounge on the 63rd floor of the hotel, offering spectacular views. Neos is presenting a special six-course dinner, priced at AED 660 per couple. The all-day dining restaurant Fazaris will serve a six-course set menu inclusive of welcome beverages for AED 800 per couple. Its terrace overlooking Burj Dubai provides a romantic setting to celebrate al fresco.

The Spa at The Address offers special Valentine’s Day packages including a two-hour Romance Indulgence Treatment, priced at AED 995 per person. Performed in the luxurious couple’s suite, the package includes a foot cleansing ritual, a salt and oil scrub and intensive massage with ESPA oils. A heated body mask is smoothed on the body and an acupressure facial massage helps renew and revitalize the skin. Ultimate peace of mind is achieved with a luxurious head massage.

The Address, Downtown Burj Dubai is the flagship hotel of Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality and leisure subsidiary of Emaar Properties. Two further The Address properties are also to open in Dubai, The Address, Dubai Mall and The Address, Dubai Marina this year.

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Halo Wars soon launching in the Middle East

Microsoft Game Studios and Ensemble Studios announced that the much-anticipated strategy game Halo Wars will be landing at retailers in Middle East this February in both Standard and Limited Collector's Edition format. Set in the iconic “Halo” universe, Halo Wars puts you in command of the battlefield and combines the intensity of Halo with a riveting new story that predates the original first-person shooter “Halo.

Developed by Ensemble Studios, the creators of the critically-acclaimed Age of Empires series, Halo Wars was designed specifically for Xbox 360® and brings a genre that has typically thrived on the PC seamlessly to consoles. From specialized controls to redesigned resource management and unit command, Halo Wars gives you the fluid strategy experience you've been waiting for on a console and is an exclusive title for the Xbox 360 video game system.

“Halo Wars” puts gamers in command of the battlefield over an arsenal of UNSC units and vehicles as they engage Covenant forces. They can counter and crush their opponent by tactically fielding the superior army. Players can also choose among leaders that possess elite skills which can turn the tides of battle. Using various combinations of leaders and units, players can create countless strategies tailored to their preferred playing styles and personalized strategies.

Since inception, “Halo Wars” was explicitly designed to cater to console gamers and bring to the Xbox 360 a genre that has typically been played on the PC. Gamers can easily command and manage powerful armies, effortlessly control troops and incredible machines, engage in epic battles and expand their empire using an intuitive user interface for the Xbox 360. “Halo Wars” represents the true next-generation experience, combining a masterful control scheme using the Xbox 360 controller with the award-winning strategic gameplay only Ensemble Studios can provide.

Halo Wars will be available in Middle East stores on February 27, 2009 with the standard edition for an Estimated Retail Price (ERP) of AED 269.

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UAE Women Leadership Program Receives more than 700 entry applications

Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) in cooperation with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Program for Leadership Development (MBRLD) organized today a orientation day about "UAE Women Leadership Program". The seminar was held in Al Murooj Rotana Hotel, in order to give the participants a digest of the program's details and goals.

This program was launched as part of the establishment's strategic plan to provide job opportunities and training programs for future Emarati women leaders to play a key role not only on the local arena but also throughout the Gulf region.

In this regard, Mona Al Marri, Chairman of DWE board says: "the program has received a great deal of care since it was first announced. The number of applicants reached 707 belonging to many fields of Emarati leaderships. Those applicants were subjected to a number of various tests to choose the best 35 candidates which will join the program."

"The program is considered a unique tailor made for Emarati women leaders since it provides programs and specialized workshops that support and motivate participation in various fields of effective leadership, strategic management and personal skills so as to comply with the establishment's plan of developing promising women leaderships in the country." Al Marri added.

Mr. Adel Al Shared, director of Muhammad bin Rashed Program for Leadership Development said "economic, environmental and social sustainable development depends on how the government responds to the change matter in question. So an increase need of skillful and qualified human resources is expected. This unique program was prepared to focus on ambitious Emarati women to grant them the newest methods and innovations in management and creative development in leadership fields, business administration and corporations."

"By this seminar, we seek to prepare the participants mentally for the program and let them know all the details related to the program progress, in addition to giving them the chance to know each other and create an atmosphere of challenge that would help to generate a unique competitive and educational environment.' Added Mr. Al Shared.

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Dubai School of Government Announces Launch of Arab Council for Social Sciences in Cairo

Scholars and researchers from throughout the Arab world gathered in Cairo, Egypt to officially launch the Arab Council for the Social Sciences (ACSS) on December 17 and 18. The Dubai School of Government played a vital role in the development of the ACSS, offering organizational leadership and support, with the Council becoming fully independent upon its launch in Cairo.

Leading Arab social scientists present at the Cairo launch of the ACSS included Ibtisam Al-Kitbi from the UAE, Ragui Assaad from Egypt, Mustafa Hamarneh of Jordan, Rahma Bourkiya from Morocco, Abdul Karim Barghouti from Palestine, Amr Hamzawy from Egypt, Raoufa Hassan of Yemen, Ahmed Baydoun from Lebanon, and Naser Jaby of Algeria.

Dr. Tarik Yousef, Dean of the Dubai School of Government and member of the Council’s steering committee, commented that “The launch of the Council will pave the way for a larger role for social science research in the Arab region, and empower leaders to make policy decisions based on sound research.”

Dr. Yousef added: “The Council will strengthen social science research in the Arab region and promote links between Arab scholars and their regional and international counterparts, fulfilling one of the primary tenets of our mission at the Dubai School of Government.”

The Arab Council for the Social Sciences is an effort by leading Arab scholars and experts to address the region’s deficiency in self-produced research. A number of UN reports on human development have emphasized the need for the Arab world to address the “knowledge gap” in order to meet the challenges of development, good governance and security. Likewise, many reports have focused on the weakness of research in the Arab world, highlighting the need to establish indigenous institutions to explore social, economic, political and environmental issues at the regional level.

Developed initially with the support of the Dubai School of Government, the ACSS is the fruit of collaboration between experts from a number of regional and international organizations, including the Regional Office of Arab States at the United Nations Development Program, the International Development Research Centre, the Social Science Research Council and the Regional Office for West Asia and North Africa of The Population Council.